Splicing apparatus



July 21, 1925. 1,547,129

G. RITTER SPLI G ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 10.- I

I N V EN TOR.- Y 7 George BIZ 2391" WITNESSES: Q BY K ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE RITT'ER,'OI1 PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE BARBER AS- PHALT. COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.-

I SPLICING APPARATUS.

Application filed February 11, 1922. Serial No. 535,943.

To all whom it may concern" Be it known that I, GEORGE BITTER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Perth Ambo in the county of Middlesex and State of New 'Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Splicing Apparatus, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My inventionrelates generally to splicing apparatus, and more particularly to a type useful in connection with frames for supporting large rolls of sheet material during unwinding of the same. One instance in which such an organization may be employed to advantage is in connection with the manufacture of prepared roofing, wherein the sheet material which forms the base of the roofing, is'unwound from large supply rolls and fed to'a. machine or apparatus by which a coating of waterproofing asphaltum'or other preservative substance or compound is applied.

The main'object of my invention is to facilitate joining or splicing together of the lead end of a new roll of the sheet material to the tail end of the material of an exhausted roll, so that this operation can be quickly accomplished to render the feeding of the material substantially continuous.

Other objects and attendantadvantages of my invention will become obvious from the detailed description of a typical embodiment thereof which follows:

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. I is anelevation of: a splicing apparatus conveniently embodying my invention shown as associated with a frame for supporting large rolls of sheet material during unwinding of the same.

Fig. II is a cross section of the splicing apparatus viewed as indicated by the arrows II-'II in Fig. I. Fig. III is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of said apparatus on an enlarged scale, showing the; vmanner in which it is used in fixing a lapjoint; and

Fig. IV is a'view to Fig. III showing the manner in which a butt joint may be produced.

As herein shown, the splicing apparatus comprises a supporting structure 1. which is preferably made as a part of a frame 25 for supporting the rolls R-R of the ma- 17-.17 pass terial which is to be unwound. The struc-' ture 1 affords bearings 2-2 for transversely disposed rollers 3-3, which serve to guide the sheet or web W of the roofing ma terial-as itcomes from. the supply roll R to pass freely between contact members 4 and 5 which are normally spaced apart, as shown in Fig. I. These members (see Fig. III) are made hollow either for the accommodation of electric'resistance coils orv other heating means, or for the circulating of a suitable heating medium such as steam or hot water.

It is to be observed furthermore that the members 45 are exact counterparts of one another and rectangular in cross section, and

that the upper one. is used in inverted relation with the respect to its fellow. All except the opposed faces respectively of the members 45 are recessed or channeled longitudinally as indicated at 6-6 for-the reception. of suitable thermo insulating ma terial or lagging 7. retained by detachable sheet metal covers or casings 88. The member 4 is fixedly supported transversely of the apparatus upon bars 99 of the structure 1, and its upper surface is substantially flush with the top, of a fixed plate 10 which serves as a table for the passing web. The rear portion of said table is rounded as at. 11 to facilitate the travel of the web thereover. The companion heating element 5 is movable toward the element 4 under actuation of a foot treadle 12 secured to a transverse rock13 journalled in suspension bearings 14 bolted to fixed side bars 15-15.

The shaft 13 is coordinated, through crank arms 16-16, with side rods 17 -17g to the .threaded tops of which the element 5 is adju'stably secured between nuts 18-18, as

clearly shown in; Figs. I and II. The rods for guidance through appropriate openings in the end projections 19-19 of the element 4 overhanging the bars ,9-9, and are further guided in slide bearings 20-20 fixed to the side bars .15.. The element 5 is maintained normally in the elevated position shown in Fig. Ithrough the instrumentality of counterweights 21-21 adjustably set on lever arms22-22 extending horizontally from the shaft 13. Upward movement of the element 5 is limited by stop collars 23-23 which are secured to the rods 1717 and come to rest against the lower faces of ledges afiorded by angle pieces.

24.24 secured to the outer sides of the bars 99.

Although the roll supporting frame 25 is of well known construction, I will proceed to describe the same briefly, so that its relation to the present invention may be better understood. This frame comprises side rails 2626 shown as being continuous with the bars 1515 of the structure 1 and which are supported by a number of uprights or posts 2727, and serve to sustain the rolls RR at a convenient height with relation to the splicing apparatus. The frame struc ture 25, as will be best seen from Fig. I, overlies a pit 28 of sufficient depth to accommodate the rolls, and is provided with means in the form of a hand lever 29, whereby the roll R may be advanced to the position now occupied by the roll R when the latter has become exhausted. The roll which occupies the active position is held from displacement by engagement of the projecting ends of its mandrel 30 within clips 3131 respectively secured to the tops of the bars 2626. The entrant sides of the clips are open, so as to freely receive the substitute roll in the course of the movement of the latter along the bars 26 of the frame 25.

In the operation of the apparatus, the web W is drawn (as required by other machines with which the apparatus'is used in the manufacture of roofing) from the roll R and guided by the rollers 33 to pass between the elements t and 5, as already explained. When the roll R has become exhausted, the movement of the web is temporarily interrupted with the tail end of the exhausted roll resting uponthe lower heated member 4. The roll R is thereupon advanced to take the place previously occupied by the roll R, and the leading edge of the material of said roll is placed to overlap the tail end of the first roll with interposition of a layer or coating L of adhesive cement, as shown in Fig. III of the drawings, whereupon the operative, by pressure upon the foot treadle 12, brings the element 5 into contact with the material over the region of the lap joint to hot-press and thereby fix the adhesive, and, in this way, effect continuity of the web, whereupon the apparatus is again set in motion. Such connection of successive webs requires but a very short interval of time, and, as will be readily seen, can be effected without appreciably interfering with the continuous operation of the roofing manufacturing plant in which the apparatus is used.

Referring now to Fig. IV, I have there shown how the splicing apparatus may be used in securing what is ordinarily termed a butt joint. In this case, the contiguous ends of the sheets which are to be joined are brought into abutment midway of the width of the element a, and a strip S of adhesive material is applied to overlap the edges ofthe respective sheets, either at the top or bottom or both, whereupon the element 5 is brought down in the manner al ready understood to effect sealing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a splicing apparatus, a frame structure, a die member mounted thereon, a movable die member having end lugs, a rock shaft, a foot pedal fixed thereto, links con meeting said arms to the lugs whereby the movable die member may be lowered when the foot pedal is depressed, and an arm carrying an adjustable weight fixed to the shaft functioning to retain the movable die member normally in elevated position.

2. In a splicing apparatus, a frame structure, a pair of internally heat-ed die members of duplicate construction, each having opposed apertured end lugs, one of said die 'members being fixedly supported on the frame structure, vertical rods movable through the lugs of the fixed die member, means fixing the lugs of the upper die member to said rods, and means acting upon said rods to raise or lower the movable die member. v

3. A splicing apparatus including a pair of spaced horizontal supporting beams upon which the ends of a shaft supporting a roll of material may be rested and moved to unwinding position, a stop means carried by the beams cooperating with the roller shaft to properly position the roll, an auxiliary end frame structure, coacting die members carried thereby, and guide rollers for guiding material from the roll through said guide rollers and between the die members.

4. In a splicing apparatus, a frame structure, fixed and movable counterpart internally heated die members having the ex terior surfaces thereof, except their opposed faces, recessed for accommodation of thermo-insulating material, retaining covers enveloping the packed surfaces, means functioning to automatically maintain, the die members normally separated, and associated means whereby the movable die member may be operated.

5. In a splicing apparatus, a frame structure, fixed and movable counterpart internally heated rectangular cross-section die members having the exterior surfaces thereof, except their opposed faces, longitudinally recessed for accommodation of thermo-insulating material, retaining covers enveloping the packed surfaces, counterweights functioning to automatically maintain the die members normally separated, and pedal actuated means whereby the movable die is lowered to operative position.

6. In a splicing apparatus of the kind described the combination of fixed and movable counterpart die members of rectangular and cellular cross-section, said die members having the exterior surfaces thereof, except their opposed faces, longitudinally channeled for accommodation of thermoinsulating material, and retaining covers enveloping said packed surfaces.

7. In a splicing apparatus, a frame structure, fixed and movable counterpart internally heated die members having the exterior surfaces thereof, except the operative faces, longitudinally recessed for accommodation of thermo-insulating material, retaining covers enveloping the packed surfaces, a table structure having its upper surface coinciding with the active face of the fixed die member and a downwardly curved rear portion, means for guiding sheet material over the table structure and said die member, means functioning to automatically maintain the movable die member elevated, and associated pedal actuated means whereby said movable die member may be lowered to operative position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Maurer, New Jersey this seventh day of February 1922.

GEO. BITTER.

WVitnesses:

D. J. DESMOND, O. A. OLSEN. 

